Vacuum cleaner fan



March 24, 1942. 'c. E. STEELE 2,277,166

VACUUM CLEANER FAN 3 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 10, 1940 flu rzzyzisz ez c. E. STE ELE VACUUM CLEANER FAN March 24, 1942.

Filed Dec. 10, 1940 3 shee'fcs sheet 2 March 24, 1942. c. E. STEELE 2,277,166

VACUUM CLEANER FAN Filed Dec. 10, 1940 5 Sheets-SheetB a I E 94M Patented Mar. 24, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VACUUM CLEANER FAN Curtis E. Steele, Garrattsville, N. Y.

Application December 10, 1940, Serial No. 369,504 9 Claims. (01. 230-125) This invention relates to suction fans and more particularly to a suction fan adapted for use in vacuum cleaners or other suction devices.

An object of this invention is to provide a, fan which includes a rotatable disc which has secured to the opposite faces thereof a plurality of fan blades, the blades on one side of the disc being termed positive suction blades and the blades on the opposite side of the disc being termed negative suction blades.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fan structure which includes a driving fan blade structure which is adapted to be connected to a source of power supply and a driven blade structure which is rotatable by contact from the incoming air, the driven blade structure providing a means for distributing the incoming air throughout the fan housing and about substantially the entire surface of the power driven blade structure. 7

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved fan blade structure including a rotatable disc, blades secured to the opposite sides of the disc and the disc being formed with a plurality of openings therethrough with relatively short or small blades struck from the disc and providing an additional means for effecting movement of the air through the housing.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a fan structure of this kind which will provide an increased suction force without increasing the power necessary to produce the suction force.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein are shown embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a detail end elevation showing'the intake end of a suction fan constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a detail end elevation partly in section of the outlet end of the fan structure.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the fan.

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken through the center of the fan structure.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an inner end elevation of the driven blade structure.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line I'-'I of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a sectional View taken 8-8 of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 3.

Fi ure 10 is a detail end elevation of the intake end of a modified form of fan structure.

Figure 11 is a vertical section taken substantially through the center of the fan structure shown in Figure 10.

Referring to the drawings and first to Figures 1 to 9, inclusive, the numeral I5 designates generally a fan housing which includes a cylindrical side wall I6 and end walls I1 and I8 which are secured to the side wall I6 by means of fastening devices I9. The cylindrical or annularside wall I6 is preferably formed of corrugated metal which has the corrugations 20 thereof extending on an angle to the longitudinal axis of the side wall I6, the corrugations providing a means for effecting a swirling movement of the air adjacent the inner surface of the side wall I6.

The end Wall II comprises the intake end of the housing and has secured thereto an intake nipple H which is adapted to be connected to a suction hose or the like and the intake end wall I1 is provided with an outwardly offset air guiding channel 22 which is struck outwardly from the end wall I! and communicates at its outer end with the intake nipple 2I. The air guiding channel 22 is substantially radial to the axi of the end wall I! and tapers inwardly and upwardly in the direction of an outwardly extending bushing 23, which is carried axially by the end wall II.

A bearing 24 is disposed in the bushing 23 and the end wall I! is provided with an axial opening 25 through which a shaft 26 extends. The shaft 26 is rotatable in the bearing 24 and the outer end of the shaft 26 may have secured thereto a collar 2I which is secured'to the shaft 26 by means of a fastening device 28. The end wall I1 is provided witha .plurality of circumferentially spaced apart inwardly ofiset detents 29a which are disposed closely adjacent the outer marginal edge of the end wallfIyI. The side wall I6 is provided with a suction outlet member 29, which is secured to the side wall I6 and which includes an L-shaped outlet member 30. Theoutlet member 29 includes an outlet nipple '3I which may be connected to a .dust collecting bag or other receiver.

on th line The shaft 26 has secured to the inner end thereof a fan blade structure generally designated as 32. The fan blade structure 32 includes a disc-shaped plate 33 which has secured on the outer face thereof a plurality of fan blade members 34 and which has secured to the inner face thereof a plurality of fan blade members 35. The blades 34 are of longitudinally arcuate configuration as shown in Figure and these blades are arranged in substantially spiral relation about a hub 36. The blades 34 and 35 are of substantially like configuration and the blades 34 and 35 are inclined in the same direction relative to the opposite faces of the disc 33.

The blades '34 are of tapered construction in-- creasing in width from their inner ends to their outer ends and each blade 34 adjacent the outer end thereof has formed therein a concavo-convex detent 31 to provide what may be termed suction recesses or cups to assist in pulling the air and the blades 35 adjacent their outer ends are also formed with similar detents 38. The disc 33 at a point between each pair of blades 34 has struck outwardly therefrom a cup-shaped blade 39 and an air passage 40 is formed through the disc 33 adjacent each cup-shaped blade 39.

The lower end of the fan member 32 is positioned in confronting relation to the intake nipple 2|. The blades 34 are inclined relative to the outer face of the disc 33 in such a manner that the incoming air entering the housing I5 through the intake member 2| will effect rotation of the blade structure 32 in the direction shown by the arrow 4|. The incoming air will partially pass about the periphery of the blade structure 32, a portion of the incoming air also passing through the openings 40 and being forced inwardly by means of the cup-shaped blades 39.

The blades 35 which are mounted on the inner side of the disc 33 provide a means whereby the air passing through the openings 40 and also a portion of the air passing about the blade structure 32 will be driven inwardly against a second or driving blade structure 42. The blade structure 42 is similar in every detail to the blade structure 32 and comprises a disc-shaped plate 43 having spirally arranged tapered blades 44 on its inner face and spirally arranged tapered blades 45 secured oppositely from the blades 44 and on the outer face of the disc 43. The disc 43 is provided with a plurality of openings or air passages 46 which are positioned between pairs of blades 44 and the disc 43 has struck inwardly therefrom a plurality of cup-shaped blades 41 which are similar to the blades 39. Each blade 44 has formed therein adjacent the outer end thereof a concavo-convex detent 48 and each blade 45 has formed therein adjacent the outer end thereof a concavo-convex detent 49. The detents 48, tents 31. The disc 43 is secured to a hub 50 which is mounted on a driving shaft 5|. The shaft 5| is rotatably carried by a bushing 52 which extends rearwardly from the end wall I8 and a bearing 53 is mounted in the bushing 52 and engages about the driving shaft 5|.

A lubricating cup 54 is carried by the bushing 52 and the end wall I8 is provided with a opening 55 through which the driving shaft 5| rotatably engages. The axis of the opening 55 is disposed eccentrically of the axis of the opening 25 so that the power driven blade structure 42 will be disposed eccentrically of the air driven blade 32.

The rear end wall l8 has struck inwardly.

therefrom a plurality of detents 56 which are arranged radially about the axis of the shaft 5|. These detents provide a means on the inner side of the end wall l8 for increasing the suction formed by the blade member 42.

In Figures 10 and 11, there is disclosed a slightly modified form of this suction fan structure. In this form a suction housing 51 is provided which includes an annular side wall 58 and forward and rear end walls 59 and 69, respectively. The side wall 59 is corrugated as at 6|, the corrugations extending angularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the side wall 58.

A driving shaft 62 is disposed axially of the housing 51, being rotatably carried by a bearbushing 64. The rear end wall 60 is provided with an axial opening 65 through which the shaft 62 rotatably engages and a lubricating cup 66 is carried by the bushing or boss 64.

The housing 51 has secured to the forward end wall 59 an axially disposed cylindrical intake nipple 61 which communicates with the interior of the housing 61 through an opening 68. The shaft 62 as shown in Figure 11 extends partly into the intake nipple 6'! and an auxiliary intake fan member generally designated as 69 is secured to the forward end of the shaft 62 within the nipple 61. The auxiliary fan structure 69 comprises a hub fixed to the shaft 62 and a plurality of spirally arranged fan blades '12.

The blades 12 are provided with concavo-convex detents 14 adjacent the outer ends thereof.

The forward end wall 59 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart inwardly offset detents 18 and the rear end wall 69 is provided with a plurality of radially arranged detents 19 which are similar to the detents 56 shown in Figure 2. A main suction blade structure generally designated as 80 is mounted on the shaft 62 within the housing 51 and comprises an annular disc 8| which is carried by a hub 82 fixed to the shaft 62.

A plurality of spirally arranged tapered forward blades 83 are secured to the forward side of the disc BI and a plurality of spirally arranged blades 84 are secured to the rear side of the disc 8|. The blades 83 adjacent the outer ends thereof are provided with concave-convex detents 85 and the blades 84 adjacent the outer end thereof-are provided with concavo-convex detents 66.

The disc 8| between each pair of blades 83.and

between the blades 84 is formed with an air passage 8'! and cup-shaped blades 88 are positioned adjacent each opening 81 and are struck forwardly from the disc 8 The side wall 58 has secured thereto an outlet member 89 which communicates with the interior of the housing 5! and a nipple 9U extendsv from the outlet member 89 and provides a means whereby a suitable collector may be connected with the housing 51.

of the blade structure 32 will cause a distribution of the air about the interior of the housing |5 on the forward side of the driving blade member G2. The inner blades 35 forming part of the blade structure 32 will cause the air on the forward side of the blade structure 42 to be forced against the blade structure 42 and the air striking the blades 44 will be driven centrifugally outwardly therefrom into the outlet member 29. The air on the forward side of the disc 42 will also be partially forced through the openings Q by means of the cup-shaped blades 47. This air will be forced outwardly by the blades 45 which provide a partial vacuum on the rear side of the disc 43.

The fan structure shown in Figures and 11 will operate similar to the fan structure shown in Figures 1 to 9, inclusive, with the exception that the auxiliary fan member 69 is fixed to the driving shaft 62 and rotates at the same speed as the main fan blade structure 80.

The end wall I! of the fan housing [5 is provided with an arcuate outwardly offset detent 22a which extends from the intake nipple 2| in the direction of rotation of the blade member 32 and provides an inner arcuate passage for the air entering through the intake pipple 2|.

What I claim is:

l. A fan structure comprising an annular housing, intake and outlet members for said housing, a fan member in said housing, a drive shaft journalled in said housing and fixed to said fan member, a second shaft journalled in said housing eccentrically of said first shaft and extending oppositely therefrom, a second fan member fixed to said second shaft and having a portion thereof confronting said intake member, said second fan member comprising a disc, fan blades on opposite faces of said disc so arranged that the incoming air striking the blades on the outer face of said disc will effect rotation therethrough.

3. In a suction fan structure, a fan including rotatable supporting means for a plurality of spirally arranged opposed blades, openings between said blades, a cup-shaped blade struck from said disc and disposed adjacent an opening whereby to force air therethrough, each of said spirally arranged blades being of tapering construction with the larger end thereof outermost.

4. In a suction fan structure, a fan comprising a disc, a plurality of spirally arranged blades on opposite sides of said disc, said disc having openings therethrough between each pair of blades, a cup-shaped blade struck from said disc and dispersed adjacent an opening whereby to force air therethrough, each of said spirally arranged blades being of tapering construction with the larger end thereof outermost, and each of said latter blades having a concavo-convex detent adjacent its outer end with the concave side thereof on the rear side thereof.

5. A fan structure comprising an annular housing, an axially disposed cylindrical intake member, an outlet member communicating with said housing through the side thereof, a shaft journalled in said housing and projecting partly into said intake member, an auxiliary fan fixed to said shaft in said intake member, and a second fan fixed to said shaft in said housing, each fan comprising a disc fixed to said shaft, and a plurality of spirally arranged blades fixed to opposite sides of said disc, said disc having openings therethrough and cup-shaped fan blades struck from said disc adjacent said openings for forcing the air through said openings.

6. In a suction fan structure, a rotatable supporting member, a plurality of spirally arranged opposed oppositely pitched sets of blades carried by said member, and a plurality of cup-shaped blades carried by said member between the said other blades, said members having openings therethrough between pairs of said sets of blades and adjacent said cup-shaped blades whereby the latter will force air through the openings.

7. In a suction fan structure, a rotatable supporting member, a pair of opposed oppositely pitched sets of blades carried by said member and said member being formed with openings between said blades, said member having said openings therethrough between pairs of said sets of blades and adjacent said cup-shaped blades whereby the latter will force air through the openings.

8. In a suction fan structure, a rotatable supporting member, a pair of opposed oppositely pitched sets of blades carried by said member, said member being formed with openings between said sets of blades, and cup-shaped blades on one side of said member bordering said openings.

9. In a suction fan structure an upstanding rotatable disc formed with openings, a set of blades on each side of said disc and between which said openings are arranged, a plurality of other blades on one of the sides of said disc bordering said openings, and each of said blades of each set being formed with a detent.

CURTIS E. STEELE. 

